Table of Contents:VOL. 18, NO. 6 - July 2008 Startup
 Lose weight or else! Should you use carrots - and sticks - to nudge your employees toward better health and higher productivity?
Tasty Pairs Move summer meals beyond Bud and barbecue. Backyard escapes This is the summer of the staycation, so pour a glass of lemonade, hit the backyard, and indulge in FSB's selection of literary escapes - tailored for small-business owners - all being published in July or August. Skydiving for sales To boost its brand recognition, Selection.com launched a skydiving team.
Tequila and sympathy Padre's Modern Mexican is turning the downturn into a marketing opportunity: Bring in a foreclosure notice, get a free drink. Pork futures A Maine artesian-foods importer this month becomes the first U.S. company to legally bring in Spain's famed jamon iberico de bellota - for $180 per pound. Light a store, save a town By reopening an iconic clothing shop, a rural community revives its once-dying downtown. Features
 Found in translation: Avoiding multilingual gaffes How a small translation company helps big brands avoid global mishaps.
Can I sell my firm without jumping through hoops? Anne Fisher answers this question, plus tells you how to sell and when to hold a job for a veteran. What are they saying about you? The web empowers customers to praise - or pummel - your business. Be prepared. A tiny cure for cancer? A startup's nanotechnology promises to zap liver tumors without nasty side effects. Feed the locals first A poorly planned expansion made me realize that my restaurant chain was strongest as a regional brand. Selling clean machines Entrepreneur David Oreck explains how he built a small distribution firm into a vacuum empire. His secret? Innovating more persistently than his competitors. Pitching Mother Nature These makers of eco-friendly products know how to stand out in a market rife with green hype.
Proving grounds Want to stop employees from skipping off to Starbucks? These hotshot espresso machines might help. HR software saves time and cash Employee-evaluation software can help you reward stars and lose deadbeats. Mush, puppy! Originally designed for extreme athletes, Diggler's scooter has gone to the dogs. Floored by growth An installer of carpeting and tile struggles to manage his booming business. One homebuilder's solution: Pay early, pay often Amid the housing crisis, this North Carolina builder found a new way to win in real estate. Cover Story
 America's fastest-growing small public companies more
Hardy growers See how our 2008 champions push through tough times.
The richest These FSB 100 owners and executives each hold more than $50 million in stock and options. Off hours
 Go surf a kite A seasoned kiteboard entrepreneur teaches newbies to ride flat water.
Eat my wall George Irwin builds green structures for a living, but his latest project aspires to rebuild lives. The art of glass Recycled treasures from independent artisans.
Becoming Ben Taylor A wide-ranging new album from the indie musician and label owner. |
|
RECENT ISSUES
FSB and the Kauffman Foundation present 50 great towns in which to grow your business. ( more)
How to come up with game-changing ideas for your business ( more)
Seven superstar entrepreneurs explain how they built global brands from scratch. ( more)
Despite the Great Recession, an elite group of small, public companies are thriving. Read on to find out how these fast movers got where they are today. ( more)
Free beer, generous vacation leave, and a say in company decisions - see how innovative companies are inspiring workers and boosting the bottom line. ( more)
FEATURES
Entrepreneurs are finding that creating eco-friendly offices costs a bit more up front but can deliver lasting benefits. |more|
More cities are requiring restaurants to tell customers how much fat is in that burger. Smart business owners are embracing the trend. |more|
At the Bitter End, some of the world's best sailors take amateurs - including many entrepreneurs - on a wild ride. |more|
FSB's makeover squad helps a shoemaking couple chart a growth plan. |more|
Facing a dwindling supply of American tech workers, employers struggle to hire skilled foreigners. |more|
|
Entrepreneurs are finding that creating eco-friendly offices costs a bit more up front but can deliver lasting benefits. |more|
More cities are requiring restaurants to tell customers how much fat is in that burger. Smart business owners are embracing the trend. |more|
At the Bitter End, some of the world's best sailors take amateurs - including many entrepreneurs - on a wild ride. |more|
Facing a dwindling supply of American tech workers, employers struggle to hire skilled foreigners. |more|
